- FEATURING 17 TOOLS: Need lenose pliers, regular pliers, 154CM replaceable wire cutters, 154CM replaceable hard-wire cutters, electrical crimper, wire stripper, 420HC knife, 420HC serrated knife, saw, awl w/ thread loop, ruler (8", 19cm), can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, phillips screwdriver, large screwdriver, small screwdriver.
- 420HC Stainless Steel: An improved, high-carbon (HC) form of 420 stainless steel that works well with high production tooling. 420HC's strength is optimized in Leatherman multi-tools by heat treatment.
- 154CM Stainless Steel: A high carbon, high alloy, and corrosion resistant stainless steel that holds its edge three times as long as 420 stainless steel. This steel is used on some premium Leatherman tool features, such as knife blades and wire cutters.
- Black Oxide: Black oxide is a powder-based metal coating. Ideal for situations where giving away a position would be costly, it is widely used by the military for its effectiveness in reducing glare and reflection.
- ONE TOOL. A COUPLE THOUSAND USES.
A great choice for first-time users, the original Portland, Oregon multi-tool manufacturer is making you your very own Sidekick. This handy pocket-sized tool has all the features you need to get your project done, at a fraction of the cost. The handy, outside-accessible blades mean you can open the knife with just one hand and rounded handles make getting a grip around their all-new, spring-action jaws easy and very comfortable. Stainless steel and backed by a 25-year warranty; first choice, or handy second backup, you can't beat the value of the Sidekick.
By chris
The Leatherman sidekick is the new enty level for the Leatherman range of multitools. There is also the new Leatherman Wingman, released at the same time. Well i chose the sidekick as i wanted a saw in my multitool.
I bought two of these and have just today received them from the post.
All i can say is leatherman has won me over straight away!
The ease of opening the tools and the lock unlock mechanism works perfectly, and the grip is really comfortable, practicing on each tool i felt that i could maintain a firm pressure and not feel any pinching or soreness from the tool at all. The feel and weight of the tool really impressed me and i would be interested to see what a Leatherman fuse owner rates this multitool.
This tool is the perfect "basic" multitool, it has a great finish, good feel and quality in the manufacture, If you want a good multitool that gives bang for your buck this is the one!
I bought two of these and have just today received them from the post.
All i can say is leatherman has won me over straight away!
The ease of opening the tools and the lock unlock mechanism works perfectly, and the grip is really comfortable, practicing on each tool i felt that i could maintain a firm pressure and not feel any pinching or soreness from the tool at all. The feel and weight of the tool really impressed me and i would be interested to see what a Leatherman fuse owner rates this multitool.
This tool is the perfect "basic" multitool, it has a great finish, good feel and quality in the manufacture, If you want a good multitool that gives bang for your buck this is the one!
By Older than Old
This is a "jewel-tool". Small,light,compact, and built well. If you're looking an EDC with alot of functionality, this might be your answer. I think it's more of a "sized-down" Wave multi-tool than anything else, without the "flash" of a Skeletool CX. I own just about everything that Leatherman has ever made (YES, I do like gadgets), and this is a very impressive addition to their product line. Keep in mind, this is NOT a full sized multi-tool (Surge/Wave/Charge/TTI/XTI, etc.) so be careful of the demands that you place on it, BUT certainly, do NOT under estimate its capability or quality. Worth the money you spend. GJM
12/12/11 Follow up: I just ordered and received my second of these tools. Why?? -- this is a great small tool for the glove compartment of my vehicle. The first one has been used primarily in the household, by me AND my wife (she says it's not too bulky for her to use). Very handy !! GJM
12/12/11 Follow up: I just ordered and received my second of these tools. Why?? -- this is a great small tool for the glove compartment of my vehicle. The first one has been used primarily in the household, by me AND my wife (she says it's not too bulky for her to use). Very handy !! GJM
By Mom Of Boys
After years of not carrying a pocket knife, I decided that it was time to carry again, but I was looking for more than just a blade. I wanted it to do everything. After talking to several friends who are avid leatherman users I decided that it was time to get one. My needs were as follows: ability to open main blade with one hand, not too big to go into a pocket, light enough to carry but not so light that it feels like a toy, good wire cutters, good saw, basic screw drivers. After doing extensive research on every leatherman made, as well as gerbers and several knock offs, I decided to give this one a try.
I was not disappointed. This is a great little device. It feels great, the weight is perfect, and has almost all of the tools that I need. I liked the Sidekick so much that I also bought a Wingman (similar product but with scissors instead of a saw).
There are only two things that I don't like about the product:
The blade does not hold an edge very well
I broke one of the flat heads trying to use it as a pry bar (not really how it is meant to be used). To be fair leatherman would fix or replace it for free, but I have not sent it in yet.
I now use the wingman as my EDC because I get more use out of the scissors than the saw, but this one is in our junk drawer and is used at least weekly.
Is it as well made as a surge or wave? Well no, but it is also 1/3 the price and 2/3 the size. For a light duty multitool that you can put in your pocket, either the sidekick or the wingman is a great choice.
One last note: Leatherman should design a make your own multitool. Flat price for the empty shell, then varying prices for tools. I don't need a bottle opener so it would be great to be able to replace it with something else (like the package opener found on the wingman). If I could replace this blade for the one that comes with the TTI and get rid of the bottle opener, I would gladly pay $100. Until then, this is the best out there.
I was not disappointed. This is a great little device. It feels great, the weight is perfect, and has almost all of the tools that I need. I liked the Sidekick so much that I also bought a Wingman (similar product but with scissors instead of a saw).
There are only two things that I don't like about the product:
The blade does not hold an edge very well
I broke one of the flat heads trying to use it as a pry bar (not really how it is meant to be used). To be fair leatherman would fix or replace it for free, but I have not sent it in yet.
I now use the wingman as my EDC because I get more use out of the scissors than the saw, but this one is in our junk drawer and is used at least weekly.
Is it as well made as a surge or wave? Well no, but it is also 1/3 the price and 2/3 the size. For a light duty multitool that you can put in your pocket, either the sidekick or the wingman is a great choice.
One last note: Leatherman should design a make your own multitool. Flat price for the empty shell, then varying prices for tools. I don't need a bottle opener so it would be great to be able to replace it with something else (like the package opener found on the wingman). If I could replace this blade for the one that comes with the TTI and get rid of the bottle opener, I would gladly pay $100. Until then, this is the best out there.
By The Benevolent Reviewer
I like it as much as the Surge I lost. With a little patience and intuition, I found what use each tool could serve and how all the tools retracted and worked without even looking at the enclosed pamphlet. I'm not a rocket scientist but I knew what "the circular thing" was for at the get go and I also assessed what each tool would be capable of doing and its limitations, considering the size of the Sidekick compared to my AWOL Surge. As I expected, the tool is well-crafted and I already knew about the warranty on all Leatherman products from past experience. However, I'm still baffled over complaints about a tool that's expertly made and at such a low price at Amazon. I try not to berate a product until I've done the research and studied the pros and cons. Hello! Complainers! Nothing in this world is perfect and neither are you. It takes patience and discovering how you can overcome adversities if they stand in the way of your desired "convenience". Scissors? GOOD GOD! I find that tool more useless and clumsy than any of the others mentioned. What's wrong with a sharp blade? If you're in an office, get a real pair of scissors! Yes, I'm very satisfied with the bargain I got and I even bought another one since the price was terrific! Maybe others ought to understand that complaints are warranted if a lot of money was invested in a product. Be glad that the company producing these products still resides in the "good ol' U.S. of A." even though I found out that some of the manufacturing is done offshore as well. Blame yourselves, those that want as cheap a product as they can get from a company that has all the manufacturing done in China! Apple comes to mind and my disgust goes to dedicated Apple fans standing in long lines and paying a heavy premium for a product produced in China. Meanwhile Apple has all its money in offshore bank accounts so they can avoid American taxes in "the greatest country in the world"! KUDOS to the Leatherman company, at least from me!
By AmazonViner
The sidekick multi-tool is clearly not the flagship tool of Leatherman. However, I found the tool a perfect addition to my camerabag for many reasons and I now consider it indispensable.
Whether cutting gaffer tape, cutting wire to hang a flash, loosening a 1/4-20 threaded screw, prying off a monopod foot, or using the spring loaded pliers to loosen a light stand bolt, I found this tool incredbly helpful. The build quality is very good, just not as good as the more expensive Leathermans such as the leatherman MUT EOD tool. For my purposes, it is more than adequate. If I am defusing ordinance, I would want the MUT EOD tool; no doubt. The leather case for the Sidekick does not attach to your belt (no loop). However, I still find it useful.
The number of times other photographers have asked to borrow my Sidekick (or similiar) is proof this tool is both needed and often over looked by photographers. I also carry it in my day to day bag (to/from work). TIP: the Sidekick was very stiff when I received it. I sprayed it with WD-50 then wiped it down. After some use, it breaks in anyway.
Whether cutting gaffer tape, cutting wire to hang a flash, loosening a 1/4-20 threaded screw, prying off a monopod foot, or using the spring loaded pliers to loosen a light stand bolt, I found this tool incredbly helpful. The build quality is very good, just not as good as the more expensive Leathermans such as the leatherman MUT EOD tool. For my purposes, it is more than adequate. If I am defusing ordinance, I would want the MUT EOD tool; no doubt. The leather case for the Sidekick does not attach to your belt (no loop). However, I still find it useful.
The number of times other photographers have asked to borrow my Sidekick (or similiar) is proof this tool is both needed and often over looked by photographers. I also carry it in my day to day bag (to/from work). TIP: the Sidekick was very stiff when I received it. I sprayed it with WD-50 then wiped it down. After some use, it breaks in anyway.
By Scout538
What can I say? It's a Leatherman. I've had the Wave for a decade and love it. I decided to purchase this for my emergency bag as it is a little smaller and lighter. Has a great feel in my hand. I expect it will last for many years. I once slammed the blade of my old Leatherman in the rear hatch of my Jeep and it snapped in half. I sent it in and Leatherman fixed it free of charge, no questions asked. Anyone who stands by their product like this has a lifetime customer.
By godaisan1982
All blades are very sharp and you can feel that it's sturdy enough to be durable. It worked great on my last camping trip and I would recommend it for any day uses.
By ClockworkOrangutan
You can't go wrong with a Leatherman. You just can't. The Sidekick is no exception, even as a "budget" Leatherman.
Now, I don't have any need for an $80-$150 multitool. Neither my lifestyle or job demand it. I just need the basics. Honestly, the Sidekick has more options than I need. I also own a CRKT Zilla for this reason (great large blade, spring pliers, standard bit driver). The Zilla is perfect for me, but it's size and weight makes it a little unwieldy for pocket carry. The Sidekick is Very pocketable and thusly (like the Zilla) comes with a pocket clip.
Let's hit the details:
Pliers: 5/5. Spring-opening and PERFECT. By far the best tool on the Sidekick. They are robust and work flawlessly. The spring-opening action puts the Zilla to shame.
Main Knife: 4/5. Not too bad, at all. It has a small/medium pocket knife-sized blade, comes sharp, and has a good tip for fine cutting. It easily thumb-opens one-handed and has a liner lock. However, the Zilla has a much larger and better blade.
Saw: 4/5. Usually, multitool saws seem pretty useless. However, the Sidekick's saw is much more impressive than I expected it to be. It's the same length as the knife and just as robust. It's also a liner lock, which helps for stability while sawing. It's a great saw for small tasks. Like the knife, the saw is also meant to be thumb-opening; but I wouldn't suggest it. The saw's opening action is not smooth (it drags) and the saw teeth are too close to the thumb hole. This results in a real danger of cutting your thumb open; because as you dig the pad of your thumb into the opening hole to overcome the drag, the sharp saw blade teeth can easily sink into your thumb as you try to rotate the saw open.
Phillips Driver & Flathead Driver: 3.5/5. These two drivers are less impressive. They are permanent (not an interchangeable bit driver). Not the end of the world, except that they are both sized quite large. There is a smaller flathead on the file.
File: 4.5/5. Like the saw, I usually find multitool files to be useless. And again, like the saw, I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually a great file. This is not your dad's Swiss army tool file. Thick, wider than expected, and useful.
Small Serrated Blade: 4/5. A better option for cutting things like cordage and rope than the plain-edged main blade. Though, the short length will make cutting thicker rope difficult.
Bottle Opener/Can Opener: 4/5. It's fine. Yet another bottle opener to add to the collection. I mean, they're on S-biners, key chains, knives. Pretty much everything. The can opener's nice, though.
There is also a fold-out ring for carabiner attachment as another method of carry.
All these features, plus a good nylon sheath and an included small carabiner multitool, makes the Leatherman Sidekick a great option for those of us who don't need a Wave. Recommended.
*Note: Keep an eye out for price drops. I bought mine for a steal at $24.88. As of right now, they normally sell for just over $42.
Now, I don't have any need for an $80-$150 multitool. Neither my lifestyle or job demand it. I just need the basics. Honestly, the Sidekick has more options than I need. I also own a CRKT Zilla for this reason (great large blade, spring pliers, standard bit driver). The Zilla is perfect for me, but it's size and weight makes it a little unwieldy for pocket carry. The Sidekick is Very pocketable and thusly (like the Zilla) comes with a pocket clip.
Let's hit the details:
Pliers: 5/5. Spring-opening and PERFECT. By far the best tool on the Sidekick. They are robust and work flawlessly. The spring-opening action puts the Zilla to shame.
Main Knife: 4/5. Not too bad, at all. It has a small/medium pocket knife-sized blade, comes sharp, and has a good tip for fine cutting. It easily thumb-opens one-handed and has a liner lock. However, the Zilla has a much larger and better blade.
Saw: 4/5. Usually, multitool saws seem pretty useless. However, the Sidekick's saw is much more impressive than I expected it to be. It's the same length as the knife and just as robust. It's also a liner lock, which helps for stability while sawing. It's a great saw for small tasks. Like the knife, the saw is also meant to be thumb-opening; but I wouldn't suggest it. The saw's opening action is not smooth (it drags) and the saw teeth are too close to the thumb hole. This results in a real danger of cutting your thumb open; because as you dig the pad of your thumb into the opening hole to overcome the drag, the sharp saw blade teeth can easily sink into your thumb as you try to rotate the saw open.
Phillips Driver & Flathead Driver: 3.5/5. These two drivers are less impressive. They are permanent (not an interchangeable bit driver). Not the end of the world, except that they are both sized quite large. There is a smaller flathead on the file.
File: 4.5/5. Like the saw, I usually find multitool files to be useless. And again, like the saw, I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually a great file. This is not your dad's Swiss army tool file. Thick, wider than expected, and useful.
Small Serrated Blade: 4/5. A better option for cutting things like cordage and rope than the plain-edged main blade. Though, the short length will make cutting thicker rope difficult.
Bottle Opener/Can Opener: 4/5. It's fine. Yet another bottle opener to add to the collection. I mean, they're on S-biners, key chains, knives. Pretty much everything. The can opener's nice, though.
There is also a fold-out ring for carabiner attachment as another method of carry.
All these features, plus a good nylon sheath and an included small carabiner multitool, makes the Leatherman Sidekick a great option for those of us who don't need a Wave. Recommended.
*Note: Keep an eye out for price drops. I bought mine for a steal at $24.88. As of right now, they normally sell for just over $42.
By Barry D
This is my third Leatherman Multi-Tool, and the least expensive of the three; and while it is not the equal of the other two, for the price it is a very good, very well made tool, and the size is right for my application. I bought it for a specific use and have no doubt that it will preform just as well as it's more expensive brethren for this use.
By ken
picked this multi tool up for about 30 bucks which is a decent price compared to others. the tools that are on this are all usefull, no stupid scissors or pointless junk. the blades on the outside are great as theyre much easier to get to and use quick. also the blades are VERY sharp and have stayed sharp for weeks of use. only bad thing i have to say is his tool says it has wire strippers, the wire strippers are just about useless. other then that this is a great tool! would recommend to others for sure
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